Insect trap



June 13, 1939. A. GOULARD INSECT TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 24, 1937 INVENTOR. BY A/exander Goa/am ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. A RD 2,162,502

INSECT TRAP Filed Dec. 24, 1937 2'Shee:tsSheet 2 INVENTOR. A/exanaer Goa/0rd ATTORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939 2,162,502

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE INSECT TRAP Alexander Goulard, Westfield, N. J. Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,626 6 Claims. (01. 43-101) The present invention relates in general to the tically elongated rectangular shape, as indicated construction of insect traps, and more particat 22, extending from the top edge 20 to approxiularly to improvements'in the construction of inmately the level of the lower end of the side edges sect traps of the type in which the insects are I'I. As shown in Fig. 3, the baffle plate I has a 5 attracted by a suitable bait located intermediate narrow medial slot 23 extending from the lower "5 a group of vertical baffle plates defining passages edge of the cutout portion 22 halfway to the leading to an insect collecting receptacle. we e ge 9, While the plate is s a m a The main object of my invention is the provislot 24 extending from the lower edge l9 halfsion of an improved construction of an insect way to the lower edge of the cutout portion 22.

trap of the type described which is characterized With this construction the baffle plates can be 10 by its ease of assembly and disassembly, relatively detachably interlocked in intersecting normal low cost of manufacture, large efiective bafile planes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by assembling area, ease of bait renewal, durability, and effecthe plates with the upper end of the slot 24 resttiveness in use, ing on the bottom of the slot 23. The slots are The various features of novelty which characso proportioned in length that when the plates terize my invention are pointed out with parare assembled as described the lower edges of the ticularity in the claims annexed to and forming cutout portions 22 will be in the same horizontal a part of this specification. For a better underplane and the lower edges 19 of the baffle plates standing of the invention, its advantages and in a parallel plane. The baffle plates are secured 20 specific objects attained by its use, reference in their assembled formation by a circular 20 should be had to the accompanying drawings and metallic top or cover plate having short narrow descriptive matter in whichI have illustrated and slots 26 arranged to receive the lugs 2| on the described a preferred embodiment. baflie plates. The otherwise imperforate top plate Of the drawings: is of sufficient diameter to extend slightly beyond 25 Fig. l is an elevation, with parts broken away the baffle plate side edges I! when in contact 25 and in section, of an assembled trap embodying with the top edges. The lugs 2| extend through the invention; the slots 26 and their projecting portions are bent Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the baffle and top down to hold the plates l5, l6 and 25 assembled. plate assembly; The medial cutout portions of the baflle plates Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of the two bafile define a central space 28 in which the insect bait plates; and can be advantageously located. For this pur- Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top plate. pose, a removable bait holder or cartridge 30,

The insect trap illustrated comprises an invertpreferably formed by a perforated cylinder of ed frusto-conical metallic funnel l0 open at its waterproof material containing a suitable bait, ends. The lower restricted end of the funnel is inserted in the space 28 with the lower end of '35 opens into an insect collecting chamber formed the holder supported on the lower edges of the by a suitable receptacle Il, such as a mason jar, cutout portions 22. As shown in Fig. 1, this which may be slit or perforated if desired for arrangement will expose approximately one drainage purposes. A perforated receptacle cap quarter of the perforated peripheral surface of v 40 i2 surrounds and is rigidly secured to the lower the bait holder to each of the four passages or 40 part of the funnel. Screw threads formed on the chambers formed by the baffie plates. cap and receptacle top provide a detachable 0011- As shown in Fig. 1, the baffle assembly fits nection 'therebetween. snugly in the funnel H] with the bait holder and The funnel I0 is arranged to receive the lower upper portion of the baffle extending above the v portion of a cruciform baffle structure formed by upper end of the funnel. The entire trap is supa pair of flat metal plates l5 and I6. As shown, ported and the baffle assembly held in place in the the plates l5, it are of similar size and shape, funnel bya wire bail 32 having hook-shaped ends each having an upper portion'with parallel verti- '33 engaging rings '34 at diametrically opposite cal side edges l1 and a lower portion with sympoints on the upper edge of the funnel. The bail metrical side edges l8 converging at an angle 32 extends across the top plate 25 and at its midcorresponding to the slope of the funnel and terdle point is formed into a loop or ring 35 adapted minating at a narrow bottom edge IS. The top to be engaged by a suitable supporting member edges 20 of the plates are formed with a pair of 36, as indicated. symmetrically arranged projecting lugs 2|. Each Insect traps of this type are especially adapted of the plates has a medial cutout portion of verfor catching Japanese beetles and for this use either a wet or dry bait containing geraniol and eugenol is preferably employed. The bait will require renewal several times during the normal infestation period and at such times the bait holders can be readily replaced by unfastening the bail 32 and removing the top plate 25. To insure preservation of the efiectiveness of the bait, the bait holders are sold in a Waterproof Wrapping which is removed by the user when a fresh supply of bait is required in the trap.

In operation, the beetles are attracted by the odor of the bait issuing through the numerous perforations in the bait passages defined by the baffle plates. plates cause the beetles to drop into the funnel and thence to the receptacle l I, from which they can be periodically removed and destroyed.

The described trap can be readily assembled with a minimum of soldering operations. A relatively large baflle area is provided by the cruciform arrangement of the plates, while the flat construction of the baflie and top plates decreases the cost of manufacture and permits a compact painted. The relatively large area of the top plate protects the bait from excessive moisture and substantially decreases the amount of water entering the receptacle during rains. The use of a removable bait holder not only facilitates the bait renewal operation, but also insures that no moldy bait will remain in the trap when new bait is added.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best form of the invention now known to me, those skilled in the art ratus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage Without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. An insect trap comprising an open-ended upright funnel, and a cruciform bafile having its lower portion fitting into said funnel and formed by a pair of vertical plates having medial slotted tapering lower portions arranged to detachably interlock, with the plates in intersecting normal planes, a circular top plate extending over the top edges of said baflle plates, means for detachably interlocking said baliie plates and top plate, and a wire bail detachably connected to diametrically opposite portions of said funnel and extending over said top plate and holding said baffle and top plates in assembled position in said funnel.

2. An insect trap comprising an open-ended upright funnel, a cruciform bafile having its lower portion fitting into said funnel and formed by a pair of vertical plates arranged with the plates in intersecting normal planes, said plates having upper medial cutout sections forming a central cular top plate extending over the entire top holder and enter the space and support for a bait holder, a ciredges of said bafile plates, means for detachably interlocking said baflie plates and top plate, a wire bail connected to diametrically opposite portions of said funnel and extending over said top plate and holding said bafiie and top plates in assembled position in said funnel, a receptacle top surrounding and secured to the lower portion of said funnel, and an insect receptacle detachably connected to said receptacle top.

3. An insect trap comprising an open-ended tachably interlock with the plates in intersecting normal planes, said plates having upper medial cutout sections forming a central space and support for a bait holder, a circular top plate extending over the entire top edges of said plates, means for detachably interlocking said baffle nected to said receptacle top.

4. An insect trap comprising an open-ended upright funnel, and a cruciform bafiie having its lower portion fitting into said funnel and formed by vertical plates arranged in intersecting planes, a top plate extending over the top edges of said bafile plates, means for detachably said baflle having cutaway sections forming a central space and support for a bait holder, a top plate extending over the top edges of said plates, means for detachably interlocking said bafile plates and top plate, and a wire bail connected to diametrically opposite portions of said funnel and extending over said top plate and holding said baflie and top plates in assembled position in said funnel.

6. An insect trap comprising an open-ended upright funnel, and a cruciform baffle having its lower portion fitting into said funnel and formed by a pair of vertical plates detachably connected with the plates in intersecting normal planes, said plates having upper medial cutaway sections forming a central space and support for a bait holder, a circular top plate extending over the entire top edges of said plates, means for detachably interlocking said baflle plates and top plate, and a wire bail detachably to diametrically opposite portions of said funnel and extending over said top plate and holding said baflle and top plates in assembled position in s funnel.

ALEXANDER GOULARD. 

